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DEFENDER | NOVEMBER 21 | 2013
defendernetwork.com
health
Be Covered Texas provides
statewide health insurance information
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By Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
e Covered Texas is a campaign focused on helping uninsured Texans understand the new health care law and what steps they need to take to gain access to individual health insurance. The campaign works with community partners to provide user-friendly information and on-the-ground guidance with the ultimate goal of helping Texans Be Covered. There are more than 6 million uninsured Texans, and efforts like these help reach those who are eligible to enroll in a health plan. “The Be Covered Texas effort works to provide educational resources and information to established community groups to help their members understand the new health care law,” said Michelle Riddell, chair of the Be Covered Texas Campaign and vice president of Community Investment for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX). “We’re working with more than 150 communitybased organizations and partners large and small to reach people where they live, work, learn, worship, text and tweet.” In October, more than 15,000 Texans attended Be Covered Texas Care Fairs in Houston and Dallas. They came looking for information about the Affordable Care Act and for access to free medical services and community resources. Be Covered booth at Texas Black Expo in Houston Attendees asked for more rights issue and through information about how the new this important educational health care law impacts them, initiative, we hope to help and assistance in determining educate and empower what steps they need to take to our members about the gain access to individual health choices they have for insurance and to the subsidies health insurance in 2014.” that can help reduce the cost. Partnerships between community organizations and the The campaign, which is fully funded by BCBSTX, Be Covered Texas campaign are tailored to each commuis working with more than 150 partners across the state, nity organization’s priorities. including 57 in Houston. Among its partners, Be Covered “For more than a decade, Harmony Public Schools Texas counts community groups, direct service agencies, have provided students from under-served communities the advocacy groups and churches. opportunity to excel in their studies in a small classroom It also works with eight statewide partners: the Caring environment focused on providing the skills they need to for Children Foundation of Texas, Inc.; Cesar E. Chavez succeed in life,” said Soner Tarim, Ph.D., CEO/superintenLegacy and Educational Foundation; It’s Time Texas; Las dent of schools, Harmony Public Schools. Comadres Para Las Americas; Marathon Kids; Texas Crim“We also recognize the importance of access to quality inal Justice Coalition; Texas LULAC; and Texas NAACP. health insurance for our students and are thrilled to partner “The NAACP Houston Branch is proud to partner with Be Covered Texas to further educate our school comwith the Be Covered Texas campaign,” said Yolanda munity on the new health care law.” Smith, executive director, Houston NAACP. “The NAACP Most partners choose to participate in at least one of believes strongly that health advocacy is a 21st century civil four ways: inviting Be Covered Texas to make an education
Thousands attended Care Fairs in Houston and Dallas
presentation to their members, distributing information at their events, sending out email blasts to members, and engaging through social media. “As a pastor I’m always looking for ways to provide my church family, and the community, with information and services to help improve their lives,” said D.Z. Cofield, senior pastor, Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church. “Our partnership with Be Covered Texas is an essential element in helping us spread the word regarding new health care possibilities for those previously disenfranchised.” Examples of recent partner engagements include a presentation by a Be Covered Texas representative to 7,500 congregants at Windsor Village United Methodist Church’s morning services. Additionally, Be Covered Texas distributed educational information and collateral to hundreds of families at the Marathon Kids Houston kick-off event, and partner organization the Sisters Network sent an email blast to its 11,445 members about Be Covered Texas. “Consumers eligible to enroll in health insurance, many for the first time, will be looking for guidance from people they know and trust,” said Riddell. “Be Covered Texas is working with our community partners to provide user-friendly, bi-lingual information and on-the-ground assistance with the ultimate goal of helping Texans Be Covered.” Community organizations interested in more information, or in becoming partners, can request more information at www.becoveredtexas.org. To learn more visit becoveredtexas.org, call 866-4277492, follow on Twitter (@BeCovered) or “like” on Facebook (Be Covered.org). To receive alerts from the Be Covered Texas campaign text 33633 with the word JOINTX for English updates or UNIRTX for Spanish updates.